Mail-bag catcher and delivery apparatus.



G. D. BUSS. MAIL BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED mm: 12, 1909. RENEWED APR. 1, 1910.

Patented May 3, 1910.-

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0. D. BUSS. MAIL BAG GATGHER AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1909. RENEWED APR. 1, 1910.

Patented May 3, 1910.

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CLAYTON D. BUSS, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER AND DELIVERY APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 3, 19.10.

Application filed June 12, 1909, Serial No. 501,846. Renewed April 1,1910 Serial No. 552,906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTON D. Boss, a citizen of the United States,residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail Bag Catchersand Delivery Apparatuses; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The invention relates to mail bag catching and delivering mechanism, theobject of the same being to provide means whereby a mail bag may bereceived or caught by a moving train and another mail bag simultaneouslydelivered therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of thisclmracter in which a mail bag may be delivered at a predeterminedlocality when a train is moving in either direction and at the same timethe said moving train may receive or catch a mail bag simultaneouslywhen the other mail bag is delivered.

A further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism of thischaracter in which a mail bag may be automatically caught or grabbedwhen a train is moving at high speed and also may deliver a mail bag ata predetermined point when the train is traveling or moving in eitherdirection.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of mechanism ofthis character in which a mail bag is automatically delivered and caughtby a moving train when the train is passing a mail bag station receivingand delivery apparatus, the construction of the mechanism being simple,thoroughly eflicient in operation and inexpensive in the manufacture.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification isillustrated the preferred form of embodiment of the invention, which toenable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, will be setforth at length in the following description, while the novelty of theinvention will be brought out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings :--Fig1.irc 1 is a sectional plan view in part of a carbody .with the invention applied thereto and the coacting mechanism atone side of the track. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of thesame.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in section of the train bag catchingand delivery mechanism in a folded position. Fig. 1 is a sectional viewon the line 4-4l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

In the drawings, the nume 'al 10, designates generally a portion of theside of a railway car having the usual doorway formed by the door frame11., through which mail bags are received and delivered in the usual orcustomary manner. Secured at any desirable point across the doorway tothe side 10 of a car is a supporting board or plank 12, the latterhaving secured thereto near one end a U-shaped bracket forming spacedoutwardlyprojecting parallel cars 13, supporting a detachable pivot 14,which forms a hinge connection for a swinging mail bag receiving anddelivery device as will be hereinafter described. However the plank orboard may be dispensed with and the bracket connected to the side of thecar. This-mail bag receiving and delivery device comprises a U-shapedbracket 1.5,which latter is connected for swinging movement by the pivot14, to the board or plank 12, and said bracket has secured thereto arectangular-shaped block 16, in which latter is mounted a rotatable arm17, the same being of squared formation in cross section throughout agreater portion of its length and provided at its inner extremity with acircular reduced terminal 18, which latter fits in a correspondinglyshaped central bore contained in the block 16 and is held connectedthereto by a cotter pin 19, so that the arm may be rotated to thedesired degree and will be prevented from separation from the block 16,when in use.

Near the outer extremity of the arm 17, are arranged spaced mail baholding devices each comprising a pair of ngers or catcher members 20,the same supported in suitable elongated slots contained in the arm 17,by means of pivots 21, which latter hold the arms in spaced relation toeach other at their pivoted extremities and the opposite extremities ofthese fingers or members 20 are formed with curved outwardly divergingterminals 22, so as to permit the entrance of a mail bag therebetwcenand also the free delivery of a mailbag therefrom when in operation. Theholding devices on the arm 17 are mounted to extend in oppositedirections from each other to opposite sides of the arm so that one ofthe devices may receive a mail bag while the other may deliver a mailbag when the train is traveling in one direction or the other. To thepivotal extremities of the fingers or members 20 are connectedretractile springs 23, which latter are also connected to the arm 17 soas to normally maintain the curved terminals 22, of the fingers ormembers in close or contacting relation with each other or in otherwords, to hold the devices closed. The circular reduced end 18 of thearm is formed with pairs of right angularly disposed sockets 24c, and25, which are engaged by locking pins 26 to hold the fingers 20 of themail bag holding devices either in vertical or horizontal position.

Mounted intermediate the ends of the arm 17 is an eye 27 projecting fromone side thereof and this eye is' adapted to be engaged by a detachablebrace rod 28, having hook terminals 29, one of which engages the eye 27and the other engaging an eye 30, mounted in the board or plank 12, soas to hold the said arm 17, when in operation at right angles to theside 10, of the car.

At the outer free end of the arm is an eye 31, which latter is adaptedto be engaged by a catch member 32, loosely connected to an eye 33,carried by the plank or board 12, so as to hold the arm 17 when swunginwardly to the side 10 of the car, in close parallel relation to theboard or plank 12, to maintain the said arm in inoperative position.

Located to one side of the track upon which the car is adapted to travelwhere mail is received and delivered is a station mail bag receiving anddelivering device. This station device comprises a vertical post 34,having projecting at right angles therefrom a stationary arm 35, whichlatter projects into the path of movement of the mail bag receiv ing anddelivering device mounted upon the car but in a plane slightly below thesame. Mounted at the outer extremity of this stationary arm 35, insuitable elongated slots are spaced oppositely directed mail bag holdingdevices each comprising a pair of spaced fingers or members 36, whichlatter are connected to said arm 35, by means of pivots 37, which holdthe same in spaced relation to each other. These fingers 36 have curvedoutwardly diverging terminals 38, to permit the insertion therebetweenof a mail bag and also the free removal of the latter therefrom. Thesecurved terminals 38 are held in close relation or contact with eachother by means of retractile springs 39, which latter are connected nearthe pivoted ends or extremities of the fingers 36 and also to thestationary arm 35. In other words the holding devices are held closed bythese springs.

On one of the fingers or members 20 of the pair at the outer end of thearm 17, is mounted a spreader device 40, the latter having a bifurcatedend 11, to engage the opposite finger or member 20, of the outer holdingdevice so as to maintain the said fingers at their outer curvedterminals 23, spread apart or separated to permit the free entrance of amail bag supported at the station mail bag catcher and delivery devicewhile the train is traveling. This spreader device 410 when not in useengages a hook member 12, and when in this position the fingers ormembers 20, are closed to retain or hold a mail bag.

Connected to one of the fingers 36 of the outermost pair of holdingdevices supported by the arm 35, at one side of the track is a spreaderdevice 413 having a bifurcated extremity a4, to engage the oppositefinger 36, of the outermost bag holding device so as to normally holdthe spread fingers in spread or separated relation to each other topermit the free entrance of a mail bag therebetween and to be deliveredfrom the passing train. This spreader device 413 when not in use engagesa hook member 15, so as to not interfere with the working of the fingersof the mail bag holding device.

Detachably mounted on the vertical post 3%, above the stationary arm 35thereof is a hanger 16, having a hook terminal 47, to engage the loopsof a mail bag when suspended between the fingers 20, of the innermostbag holding device so as to overcome any possibility of the accidentalrelease of the bag from the holding device when it is in position to bereceived by a passing train.

Normally the mail bag catching and delivery mechanism upon the train orcar is swung inwardly by having its arm 17 ar ranged in close parallelrelation to the board 12, at the side 10 of the car. Now when the carapproaches a station an operator withdraws the locking pins 26, thenturns the bar 17, into a position so as to have the fingers 20 of theholding devices lie in a horizontal plane and a mail bag is insertedbetween the fingers 20 of the inner holding device. Should it be desiredto receive a mail bag from a station the operator sets the spacer device410, to spread the fingers 20, of, the outermost holding device, wherebya mail bag supported by the catching and delivery mechanism at thestation will be automatically received during the moving of the train,it being understood of course that the arm 17 is swung outwardly atright angles to the side 10 of the car and held in such position by thebrace 28, until the exchange of the mail bags from the car and stationmechanism has been made. The

catcher and delivery mechanism at the station previous to the arrival ofthe train is set so as to have the outer holding device in a position toreceive the mail bag from the car and this is done by separating thefingers 36 thereof by the spreader device 44:, and a mail bag to bereceived by the passing train is inserted between the fingers 36, of theinnermost holding device and this bag is suspended in this manner bymeans of the hanger 46 on the vertical post 44, located at the stationor other locality. It will be clearly obvious that there will be anautomatic exchange of mail'bags between the passing train and thestation by the mechanisms heretofore enumerated.

What is claimed is 1. In mechanism of the class described, a supportingmeans adapted to be mounted upon a moving car, a swinging arm pivoted tosaid means, bag holding devices extending in opposite dlrections fromeach other and arranged in spaced relation upon said arm, means forlocking the holding devices in either vertical or horizontal position,means for spreading one of said holding devices, and means for holdingthe arm against movement when in either operative or inoperativeposition.

2. The combination with a car, of mail bag catching and deliverymechanism carried thereby, an arm supporting said mechanism, means forlocking the mechanism in either a vertical or horizontal plane, andmeans for holding the arm against movement when in operative orinoperative position.

3. In mechanism of the class described, a supporting board, a U-shapedbracket secured near one end of said board, a block hinged to saidbracket, an arm rotatably supported by the block, bag holding devicescarried by the arm and extending in opposite directions with respect toeach other, and means for locking the arm against rotation to hold thebag holdin devices in either vertical or horizontal plane.

4. In mechanism of the class described,

a supporting board, a U-shaped bracket secured near one end of saidboard, a block hinged to said bracket, an arm rotatably supported by theblock, bag holding devices carried by the arm and extending in oppositedirections with respect to each other, means for locking the arm againstrotation to hold the bag holding devices in either vertical, orhorizontal plane, and means for locking the arm when in an outwardly orinwardly swung position.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a U-shaped bracket secured nearone end to the side of the car, a block hinged to said bracket an armrotatably supported by the block, bag holding devices carried by the armand extending in opposite directions with respect to each other, meansfor locking the arm against rotation to hold the bag holding devices ineither a vertical or horizontal plane, means for locking the arm when inan outwardly or inwardly swung position, and means for holding one ofthe bag holding devices in an open position.

(5. In mechanism of the class described, a supporting board, a U-shapedbracket secured near one end of said board, a block hinged to saidbracket, an arm rotatably supported by the block, bag holding devicescarried by the arm and extending in opposite directions with respect toeach other, means for locking the arm against rotation to hold the bagholding devices in either a vertical or horizontal plane, means forlooking the arm when in an outwardly or inwardly swung position, meansfor holding one of the bag holding devices in an open position, and mailbag catching and receiving mechanism being located at a station andadapted to cooperate with the holding devices.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

CLAYTON D. BUSS. lVitnesses:

ROY R. FUHNER, S. STUART DRAKE.

